Michael Smith Obituary, Death; – An individual from Oklahoma was fatally shot during an altercation concerning a young girl’s bicycle, with his dog remaining by his side throughout the incident, according to investigators. Authorities discovered Michael Smith deceased outside a residence in Edmond on November 28, which coincided with Thanksgiving Day, as detailed in court documents submitted on December 11 in Logan County.
Initially, the circumstances surrounding Smith’s death were unclear. He was found on the ground adjacent to a collapsed tent, with his dog remaining motionless, seemingly reluctant to leave the vicinity, as noted in a probable cause affidavit. It was later revealed that Smith was experiencing homelessness, and the homeowners had permitted him to reside on their property in his tent.
The homeowners reported that Smith was alive and appeared to be in good spirits when they left for a family visit that morning, having overheard him conversing with his dog. However, upon their return in the afternoon, they discovered Smith lying face down on the ground. He was gripping a bat in one hand, yet there were no evident indications of a struggle, according to deputies. Four days later, on December 2, the county medical examiner identified a detail that had been overlooked at the scene: a gunshot wound. Officials confirmed that Smith had been shot, with the bullet passing through both of his lungs and grazing his heart, as stated in the documents.
Subsequently, deputies revisited the area to interview neighbors regarding any observations they might have made. Witnesses reported that three individuals—two men and a woman—approached Smith’s tent. The men confronted Smith while the woman utilized a rake to keep his barking dog at a distance, as recounted by witnesses to the deputies. Following this, a gunshot was heard.
Witnesses described seeing Mr. Smith struggling to regain his footing, retreating towards his tent before collapsing to the ground. One of the men, later identified as Aldon Harmon, quickly returned to his vehicle and fled the scene, while the other two individuals, Steven Canning and Destiny Meeks, departed with a bicycle, shouting at witnesses that “he stole my 10-year-old’s bike,” according to the documents. Witnesses indicated that they were unaware of Smith’s situation.
